F406 Caravan II
Reims Aviation · France · first flew 1983 · transport aircraft
The Reims F406 Caravan II is a French-built twin-turboprop utility and surveillance aircraft derived from Cessna's 400-series piston twins.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Stretched Cessna 400-series fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin PT6 turboprops on a low straight wing
- Stretched Cessna 400-series fuselage
- Utility and surveillance transport
Identify it by the low straight wing carrying two slim PT6 turboprop nacelles and the long, narrow Cessna-derived fuselage. A conventional swept fin and low tailplane complete the practical utility profile.
Specifications
- The F406 Caravan II has a length of 11.89 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.08 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 455 km/h (283 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 or 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Reims Aviation, Cessna's French associate, developed the F406 by mating a stretched Cessna 404 Titan fuselage with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-112 turboprops; it first flew on 22 September 1983. The result was a rugged aircraft for passenger, freight and special-mission work. It remained in low-rate production long after most Cessna piston twins ended.
Variants
Beyond the baseline utility transport, the F406 was offered in dedicated maritime-patrol and surveillance forms such as the Vigilant and Surmar, fitted with search radar and sensor turrets. Cargo and combi interiors were also available. Special-mission versions account for much of its later appeal.
Where you'll see it
Operators include coastguards, customs and fisheries-protection agencies across Europe, and surveillance-configured F406s have supported maritime patrol tasks relevant to UK and adjacent waters. Civil operators use it for freight and light passenger work.
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- Reims F337H Super Skymaster
- Reims FTB337G Milirole
- Reims F337G Super Skymaster
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- Beechcraft RC-12G
- CASA/IPTN CN-235M
- Cessna T-47A
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